changes were perceptible, both in the restless and marauding
disposition of the Moors, and in the preponderating strength
of the King of Bambarra: and it would by no means
follow (if the question were really of importance to Adams’s
story) that the northern frontiers of the state must, in 1811,
be the same as they were supposed to be in 1796.*
Placing Soudenny, therefore, within the frontiers of
Bambarra, in the sixteenth or possibly the fifteenth degree
of North latitude, and about the fifth or sixth of West longitude,
we shall find Adams’s account of his course and
distance from thence to Tomhuctoo, approach with extraordinary
accuracy to the line of journey required. We
possess too little knowledge of the countries through which
this route would lie, to pronounce with any confidence
upon the probability of the circumstances of his journey.
What we can at present know upon the subject must be
learnt from P a rk ;—who informs us, that to the eastward of
Bambarra, between that kingdom and Tombuctoo, lies the
Foulah kingdom of Masina. It is not known to what
* In one direction at least, (to the West) the King of Bambarra’s frontiers
appear to have been much extended in 1810; for according to Isaaco’s Journal,
4to. p. 194, they cannot be placed more than three or four short days journey
from Giocha (Joko); although according to Park’s first map, the distance from
Joko to the nearest frontiers of Bambarra is at least ten day’s journey. There
had been a war in 1801, in these parts; being the second war in six years.
latitude the northern frontiers of the latter kingdom extend ;
but we are told that it is bounded on that side by the
Moorish kingdom of Beeroo ; and there is great reason to
suppose, with Major Rennell,* that the Moorish population
which to the westward touches the Senegal, does from that
point incline in a oblique line to the northward of east, as
it advances from the west along the limits of Soudan.
Admitting this retrocession of the Moors towards the
Desert, the Negroes of Soudenny would find a secure route,
through Negro countries, along the extreme frontiers -j~ of
Bambarra and Masina to the borders of Tombuctoo, generally
in the direction described by Adams.
Why the Negroes, if they were actually Bambarrans,
s h o u ld c o n v o y Uioir p r is o n e r s to T o m b u c to o r a th e r t h a n to
Sego, may not perhaps be quite so apparent as some of
Adams’s readers may require: but it would be pushing
the caution of incredulity to an unreasonable extreme to
disbelieve the asserted fact on that account alone. Desirous
* See Park’s First Mission, Appendix, 4to. p. lxxxix.
-f* Adams states his route to have lain through barren and uninhabited districts;
and Park speaking of Soudan generally, says, first Mission, 4to. p. 261,
<( the borders of the different kingdoms were either very thinly peopled, or
entirely deserted.” See also his Account of the country, east of Benowm, near
the frontiers of Bambarra, p. 116,—“ a sandy country.”—p. 12 1, fi a hot sandy
country covered with small stunted shrubs.”